Thanking Christopher Riley for sharing his beautiful photograph taken of the Staunton Methodist Church.
See below
Thanking Eugene "Gene" Wilt for sharing a photograph from his Staunton Methodist Cemetery collection of the William Johnson marker at the Staunton Methodist Cemetery.
With his death listed as having been 1833, William Johnson is the earliest known burial at this still active cemetery. 
Thanking Bob Russell of the Fayette County Historical Society for providing important and striking scenes of the stately Staunton Methodist Church with it original wrought iron gate and fence that still runs along Staunton-Sugar Grove Road (County Road 52).
Views of some of the taller monuments are included in most photos.
(Above photo collage)
Left to right:
The Joseph Trimble Limes monument and bugler statue; the tallest monument in the Staunton Methodist Cemetery.
Photograph taken by Mr. Ted Waddle on January 7, 2020.
Below
Two images and map insets from Google
Excerpted from:
"Selected Histories of
Fayette County Churches"
Project requested by:
Christopher Siscoe
Records compiled and printed by:
Maria Wilburn
Page 100
"THE STAUNTON METHODIST CHURCH"
"The Staunton M. E. Church Society in the village of Staunton,
Concord Township, was organized A. D. 1820, and the first church was a rude
structure, erected A. D. 1833.
According to early information the building was of log construction.
Prior to the erection of the old log church, the pioneers had held their
meetings in the various cabins and later on in the school house. Henry Turner
is mentioned as an early circuit rider, coming to the community from Hillsboro
to conduct meetings. In order to be present at his many
appointments, it was said that he was compelled to travel twenty-eight
days each month and thus had but little time for recreation.
An early preacher mentioned in Dills History of Fayette County
was Ebenezer Webster. Among the first elders were John Collins and William
Simmons.
The Society enlarged until in 1851 a substantial frame church
was built. This church was used by the parishioners until around the turn of
the century when plans were discussed
for the construction of a brick edifice for worship
services.
It was definitely decided in the spring of 1900 to build the
present church, a leading incentive to the construction of the building being
the demise of $1,000 left by the late Robert Worthington.
In order to make room for the building of the new structure,
the old church was moved to a vacant lot at the eastern edge of the village. It
stood there for sometime until Mr. Morris Sharp, of Washington Court House,
Ohio, paid $100 for the building, which was dismantled and moved to Washington C.
H. where it was rebuilt on South Fayette Street and known for years as Wesley
Chapel. The building replacing the old frame church was constructed of brick
and stone with a slate roof. It has a bowled floor, seated with circular pews
of quartered oak, which will comfortably seat about 400 persons, There are
three large Gothic windows, elegantly set with beautiful art stained glass
adorning the superstructure. One contains designs of the "Good
Shepherd," the "Cross," "Crown" and
"Anchor," dedicated to the memory of the late Robert Worthington who
for many years was a devoted member of the church and its causes.
On either side of the pulpit are two small rooms used for choir
and library purposes. The Staunton M. E. Church Society deserve great credit for
their cheerful and liberal contributions to the Building Fund and they take
real pleasure in voicing appreciation to the many who so liberally contributed.
The Ladies’ Aid Society displayed great tact and untiring energy in their
efforts to raise as large a contribution as possible. The Ladies’ Aid was organized
on May 9, 1899 with the following officers serving;
Mrs. P. W. Drumm, President; Mrs. Robert Worthington,
Vice-President; Miss Stella Watson, Secretary; Mrs. Mattie McCoy, Asst. Sect'.;
Mrs. J. E. Mark Treasurer. Many dollars were indirectly added to the Building
Fund by donations to the society ranging in value from fractional parts of a.
dollar to several dollars. Listed as members of the building committee were:
Henry Mark, President; E. R. VanPelt, Vice-President; I. N. Rowe, Rec. Sect'.;
J. E. Mark, Cor. Sect',; Wm. Worthington, Treas.; L. H. Mark, and P. W. Drumm.
Board of Trustees at the time included; Henry Mark, E. R. VanPelt,
John Deer, Lewis Mark, Charles Stafford, Spencer Calvert, Clark Rowe, A. C.
McCoy, J. E. Mark.
Dedicatory services were held on Sunday, February 3, 1901,
with worship at 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. During the morning hour scripture
readings were offered by Rev. D. Y. Murdock and Rev. J. W. Baker while
invocation was pronounced by Rev. R. Watson. The morning sermon was given by
Rev. J. W. Bashford, D, D., President of the Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware,
Ohio. Rev. A. H, Norcross, D. D., pastor of Grace M. E. Church, Washington C.
H., Ohio, had the sermon at the evening service. Formal dedication was made by
Rev. Bashford. The minister of the Staunton Methodist Church. at the time was
Rev. P. W. Drumm.
In the early days, Staunton, Buena Vista, Mt. Carmel and Asbury
Chapel made up the circuit. When Mt. Carmel burned and wasn't rebuilt, Maple
Grove and Camp Grove were added, That was about the years, 1912 to 1914.
Staunton became part of a parish later on. Other churches in the parish
included Good Hope, Buena Vista, Cochran, Maple Grove, Sugar Grove and New Martinsburg.
The parsonage was then changed from Staunton to Good Hope. In the 1940's-,
Staunton became part of the Bloomingburg District, of which district it is now
identified. Rev. Lester Taylor, of Bloomingburg is the present pastor. Other
pastors who have served the church through the years included such names as
Rev. Postle, Rev. Drumm, Rev. Bancroft, Rev. Clifford, Rev. Isaac Sollars, Rev.
Ricketts, Rev. Creamer, Rev. Sudlow, Rev. Rose, Rev. Jones, Rev. N. H. Peterson,
Rev. Meyers, Rev. Beckett, Rev. Haycock, Rev. Tucker, Rev. Marshall, Rev.
Baughn, and Frank Hughes, Ohio Wesleyan University student, who served as
substitute preacher during one summer.
Floors were sanded and the church redecorated about 12 years
ago - 1943. A dedication was held then with Rev. Baughn the pastor in charge at
that time.
Extensive redecorating to the interior has been underway at
the church in recent months. New carpet has also been laid to further add to
the attractiveness of the surroundings.
This year - 1955 - membership stands at approximately 100.
Preaching services are held every two weeks at 9:30 a.m. Sunday School is held
every Sunday, one morning at 9:30 a.m. and the next at 10:30 a.m., depending on
preaching.
EXPENDITURES
E. E. Crone, Building Contract $6,506.20
American Furniture Co., Seating $ 830.00
Marshall Furnace Co., Wolverine Furnace $ 235.00
Bryant Bros., Columbus, Frescoing
$300.00
C. F. Parker, Architect
$ 120.05
Von Gerichten Glass Co., Art Glass
$525.00
~*~*~*~*~
Page 101
Phillip Mosier – cornerstone $ 15.00
Wm. Briggs, Light $ 105.00
Craig Bros., Wash. C. H., Carpet $ 302.41
Ford Hdw. Co., Hardware $ 40.00
B. and 0. Ry., Freight on Glass $ 3.97
Will E. Dale, Chairs $ 18.00
St. Burkley, Organ $ 85.00
Wm. Millikan and Son, Printing $ 7.00
Craig Bros., Carpet Sweepers
$ 3.50
Will E. Dale, furnishing extra chairs
$ 1.50
Henry Mark, Digging Cellar $ 17.00
Henry Mark, work $ 15.35
E. R. VanPelt, work $ 15.85
I. N. Rowe, Sundries $ 7.57
H. G. Coffman & Co., Lumber $ 4.72
Wm. Smith, work $ 5.50
Enoch Lee, work $ 5.25
J. W. Roberts, work $ 2.25
C. A. Stafford, Tile $ 4.50
Thornton & Son, Coal $ 21.54
Smithers Bros., Coal $ 20.13
Jesse Bonecutter, Hauling coal $ 5.96
Ed Scroggins, Fixing Seats $ 5.20
J. E. Mark, Hauling Lumber $ 1.50
J. E. Mark, S. S. Books & freight on organ $ 9.15
Jack Hidy, Fixing Windows $ 2.50
N. A. Roberts, Board $ .50
A. E. Mark, Payment on parsonage barn
$ 68.50
Dial & Fullerton, Cyclone and Fire Ins.
$ 49.50
Rev. J. G. Bashford, Dedication $ 55.00
Rev. A. H. Norcross – assistant $ 5.00
Total $9,420.93
SUMMARY
Total amount money subscribed $9,840.50
Total amount subscriptions yet unpaid
$ 95.00
Total amount subscriptions collected $9,745.50
Total amount money expended $9,420.03
Total amount money in Treasury $ 325.47
Equaling Amount Subscription collected $9,745.50
This reports was respectfully submitted to the Building
Committee by the Secretary and Treasurer at a called meeting
on March 13th 1902 and the same was by unanimous vote
accepted, and by unanimous vote of Building Committee said
balance of $325.47 was turned over to the Board of Trustees
of
Staunton M. E. Church. Respectfully, (Signed) J. E. Mark,
Wm.
Worthington, Committee on Report.
(Information Furnished through the courtesy of Mrs. J. O. Wilson,
Staunton, Ohio and Miss Blanche Roberts, Wash. C. H., O.) - Dated February 16,
1955.
(Few Facts Taken from Dills History of Fayette County)
Addenda
1955 Dedication
Most of the 100 members of Staunton Methodist Church, together
with guests and former members from Washington C. H., Springfield, Chillicothe
and Cleveland attended dedication services for the redecorated church on
Sunday, May 22, 1955.
The interior of the church has been completely done over.
The floors and pews have been refinished, new carpeting has
been laid and new drapes hung, and a large portrait of
Christ now dominates the front of the church.
Following the morning class session a worship service was held
at 11 a.m. with Rev. Lester Taylor offering a sermon based on the Book of
Psalms. In the congregation were 18 families from Selden Grange. At noon a
potluck dinner was held at Staunton school.
Returning to the church, members and guests enjoyed the formal
dedication service at 2 p.m. conducted by Rev. Marshall, a former pastor of the
Staunton Church. Other than the dedication sermon, there were several talks
given by members of long standing covering major events in the history of the
church. The talks were prepared and delivered by W. P. Wikel, Miss Blanche
Roberts, Miss Mazie Rowe, Miss Annette Stafford, Mrs. Pearl McCurdy and
Lawrence Sheridan. Present at the
dedication service were a dozen members of the Sunday School class taught for
years by Mrs. Mary Stafford, who would be over a century old if she were still living.
Eight church members who attended the original dedication of the church after
its construction in 1901 were on hand for the services May 22, 1955. They were
Miss Blanche Roberts, Miss Mazie Rowe, Miss Annette Stafford, Mr. and Mrs. Foster
Wikle, W. E. Sollars, Mrs. Vada McCoy and W. P. Wikel."
(Facts from Record-Herald dated May 23, 1955.)
The two images above comprise the W.P.A. Cemetery Plat
map created for the Staunton Methodist Cemetery with the listing
of known veterans up to and including World War I.
The veterans' names, grave locations, and war designations are listed.
Their burial plots are noted on the map.
Below are the Veterans Graves Registration Cards obtained from the Fayette County Recorder's Office.
These cards can serve as companion records for the W.P.A. Cemetery Plat maps.
